Plastic Dash

[shepherd57]

I got no response in the Argosy forum so trying here. Has anybody repaired a cracked dash and if so what product did you use. I have tried epoxy and it won't bond to the plastic. The PO had used auto body filler and that did not work either.

Anybody know what type of plastic the early dashes were made from it is about 3/16 to 1/4 inch thick

[steveturk]

I ran across a website awile back that looked like a good repair method. I'm not sure of the web address but if you do a Google search " dash repair " it should come up. Look for " Dash Repair - Restoration Techniques by Daron Walker "

Good Luck !

[masseyfarm]

Thanks for the good site.

Dash Repair - Restoration Techniques by Daron Walker

Dave

Originally Posted by steveturk

I ran across a website awile back that looked like a good repair method. I'm not sure of the web address but if you do a Google search " dash repair " it should come up. Look for " Dash Repair - Restoration Techniques by Daron Walker "

Good Luck !

[Keyair]

Thats a weird dejavu moment Massey...
Thats an Alfa Romeo Dash, IIRC!

Shep, if that is a pic of the backside, that is expanded foam... and as such its just a filler..
If its the surface that has the crack..
Try rubbing the backside of the dash with MEK... if its softens then its ABS.

[shepherd57]

Yes that is the backside of the dash it has some cracks where the defroster vents are you can see the blue body filler that the P O or somebody has put on. I read some place about MEK but I don't know if it is available here dose it have a product name or is MEK it.

How is it used

[Keyair]

MEK is the shortened name...
Kethyl ethyl ketone
Its a strong solvent like Acetone.
We can buy it at Home Depo here is California still, so it must be available there too.
Look here how I used it on an ABS part.
Post 90 , then 118 on..
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f311...e-62919-7.html

[streamquest]

Originally Posted by shepherd57

I got no response in the Argosy forum so trying here. Has anybody repaired a cracked dash and if so what product did you use. I have tried epoxy and it won't bond to the plastic. The PO had used auto body filler and that did not work either.

Anybody know what type of plastic the early dashes were made from it is about 3/16 to 1/4 inch thick

I did a major rebuild of the dash in my 325 and used a two part WEST SYSTEM epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth from a marine supply store. Scuff the plastic with a very course grit sand paper to give the resin a surface to grab hold of. The cloth will bridge the gap where you now have a crack. The stuff is super strong and very stiff once it sets up.
As you may be working with the dash in an upside down position, be careful that the resin doesn't flow into places where you don't want it to go. It is very hard when cured, and difficult to sand by hand. You can use painter's tape or something similar to "seal" the crack in the area where you're working to control the flow of the resin. Good luck!